Mechanical toy.



No. 817,771. PATENTED APR. 17, 1906. R. HELMER. MEGHANIGAL'TOY.

APPLIOATIOH FILED SEPT. 21, 1905.

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Wihwoazo w q No. 817,771. PATENTED APR. 17, 1906. R. HBLMER.

MECHANICAL TUY.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 21, 1905.

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1 [Masses UNTTED STATES PATENT OEETCE.

MECHANICAL TOY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 17, 1906.

Application filed September 21,1905. Serial No. 279.518.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT HELMER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hector, in the county of Renville and State of Minnesota,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanical Toys, ofwhich the following is a specification.

As a diversity in the line of toys actuated by movement the presentinvention provides a device of this character possessing peculiarcharacteristics, the same representing a hurdle race and a master, thejumpers pausing when reaching the hurdle before leaping over the sameand the master being mounted to turn and urge the racers onward.

The invention consists, preferably, of a series of figures representingrunning horses arranged to travel in a circle, hurdles for the figuresto leap over, actuating means for operating the figures, a track havinginraced or serrated portions to effect a trotting move ment of thehorses and projections opposite the hurdles to cause the horses to leapthereover, and operating means to effect a turning of the master and aquick movement to the arm carrying the whip.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and alsoto acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means foreffecting the result reference is to be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings.

\Vhile the invention maybe adapted to different forms and conditions bychanges in the structure and minor details without departing from thespirit or essential features thereof, still the preferred embodiment isshown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of a mechanical toy embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a verticalcentral section thereof, showing the movement in full lines. Fig. 3 is atop plan view of the toy having the rotary platform and attached figuresomitted. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the platform as seen from the underside, showing the relation of the parts attached thereto. Fig. 5 is adetail perspective view of a figure and connections between it and theplatform. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the instrumentality foreffecting a turning of the master and a movement of the whip-carryingarm. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the brake mechanism.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

The framework is hollow and is preferably of circular form and comprisesa bottom 1 and rim 2, the lower portion of the latter projecting a shortdistance below the bottom 1, so as to support the brake and windingthumb-piece out of contact with the table or other support upon whichthe toy may be placed. An annular rest 3 projects inward from the upperportion of the rim 2 and constitutes a track and supports the hurdles 4.The platform 5 is preferably arranged in the plane of the rest 3 and hasthe movable fig.

ures, such as the horses and master, attached thereto. In the operationof the toy the platform 5 is rotated and carries the figures around in acircle.

Any suitable motor or means may be provided for imparting rotarymovement to the platform, and, as illustrated, a clock-movement 6 ofordinary construction is employed and is secured to the bottom 1 andarranged within the framework, so as to be protected and housed thereby.

The center arbor 7 of the motor or clockmovement is extended at eachend, so as to project beyond the bottom 1 and the platform 5, the upperend being secured to the platform to compel the latter to rotate therewith and the lower projecting end cooperating with' a brake by means ofwhich the speed of the motor may be controlled. Concentric with thearbor or shaft 7 is arranged a circular track 8, whose upper edge isinraced, serrated, or embedded to provide a series of teeth orprojections 9, whose edges similarly curve in opposite directions, so asto impart a jogging movement to the figures or horses when carriedaround in a circle. Opposite to each of the hurdles 4 the track 8 isprovided with projections 10, which extend to a higher elevation thanthe teeth or projections 9 and which have their opposite edges reverselyinclined, so as to impart to the horses or figures a rising-and -fallingmovement corresponding to that produced by a horse when leaping over ahurdle. The relative size and inclination of the edges of theprojections 10 will depend upon the height of the hurdles and the natureand size of the leaping figures, so as to produce the desiredeifectnamely, to simulate the life-like action of a leaping animal. Thetrack 8 preferably consists of a ring having a vertical arrangement andsecured at its lower edge to the bottom 1. The running figures 11represent horses having jointed limbs and are supported by means of arms12 and 13, the latter being pivotally connected at opposite ends to,respectively, the figure and the platform, whereas the arm 13 iscomposed of articulated parts which are jointed at 14 and are pivotallyconnected at opposite ends to, respectively, the figure and theplatform. Each of the arms 12-and 13 is composed of angularly-disposedmembers, one of which projects horizontally and the other in an uprightor substantially vertical. direction. Lateral offsets 15 projectoutward. from the arms at the point of divergence of their respectivemembers and are arranged to travel upon the inraced, serrated, ortoothed edge of the track 8. The parts are so arranged that when anoffset of one arm is upon the crest of a tooth or projection the offsetof the companion arm is in the notch or indenture formed betweenadjacent teeth or projections, and as a result of this arrangement thefigure, in addition to receiving a vertical reciprocating movement, isat the same time oscillated, presenting the appearance of a trottinghorse. It is essential that one of the arms be rigid throughout itslength in order to maintain the figure in normal position, and bypreference the rear arm 12 is formed in this manner. The offsets 15consist of folds resulting from doubling a part of the arms upon itself.The upper portion of the arm 13 1s jointed to the upper member of thefold of the lower part, as shown most clearly in Fig. 5. The projections10 have their upper edges straight and their front and rear edgesoppositely inclined, the upper straight edge serving to support eitherthe front or hind portion of the figure during its passage over thehurdle, whereas the front and rear inclined edges give to the figure theleaping action. The arms may be pivotally connected to the figures andplatform in any manner so long as provision is had for accomplishing theresult specified.

The figure 16, representing the master, is mounted upon a stand 17, fromwhich a spindle 18 is pendent and journaled to the platform 5 a shortdistance from its center or the arbor 7. The lower end of the spindle 18is provided with a iii-wheel 19, the arms of which are adapte in therotation of the platform to come in contact with a trip 20, GX- tendedupward from the bottom 1 of the framework, so as to cause the spindleand figure 16 to partly turn at each operation of the pin-wheel. Theremay be as many trips 20 as desired. The master is located eccentricwithreference to the platform 5, and hence travels around in a circletherewith and at the same time receives an independent rotary movementdue to the arms of the pinwheel 19 coming in contact with the trip 20.

The arms of the figure of the master 14 are jointed to the body, and inthe hand of one of the arms is carried a whip or rod 21, whichsimultaneously with the turning of the master with the spindle 18receives a movement approximating the action of lashing or snapping thewhip to urge the runners forward. This movement of the whip 21 iseffected by the instrumentality shown most clearly in Fig. 6, the sameconsisting of a lever 22, pivotally connected to the base 17 at 23 andhaving one end connected by wire 24 with a crank 25, attached to themovable arm 26 of said figure. A series of cams 27 have a concentricarrangement with reference to the spindle 18 and are attached to theplatform 5. j

The end of the lever 22 opposite to that connected with the part 24 isarranged to travel upon the cams 27 and is actuated thereby to impart anoscillatory movement to said lever, which in turn is transmitted to thewhip car rying the arm 26 by means of the connection. 24. A pin 28 ispendent from the base 17 and holds the lever 22 in proper position. Thebrake for controlling the action of the toy cooperates with the arbor orshaft 7 and consists of companion members 29, arranged to embraceopposite sides of the projecting end thereof, said arms being preferablyparts of a spring-clip pivotally connected at the closed end to thebottom 1 and adapted to have the free ends drawn together by thethreaded end of a rod 30, arranged beneath the bottom 1 and projectingbeyond the rim 2 and provided with a handle 31. By rotating the rod 30in one direction. the members 29 may be caused to clip the arbor orshaft 7 with sufficient force to prevent action of the toy, even thoughthe driving-spring may be wound, and by turning the rod 30 in the opposite direction the members 29 are permitted to spread and release theshaft, so that the toy may operate in the event of its being wound.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In amechanical toy and in combination with a movable figure, an inracedtrack, and spaced connections between said. figure and track arrangedwith reference to the teeth or projections to cause opposite endportions of the figure to receive a simultaneous inverse movement at thesame time the figure is carried forward. I

2. In a mechanical toy, and in combination with a movable figure, aprojection, and spaced connections cooperating with said figure andprojection to impart to the figure a leaping action simultaneous withits for- Ward movement.

3. In a mechanical toy, the combination of a movable figure, aprojection arranged in the path thereof and having oppositelyin clinededge portions, and spaced arms extended from the figure and adapted tocolIO operate with said projection to impart a leaping action to thefigure simultaneously with its forward movement.

4. In a mechanical toy, the combination of a movable figure, an inracedtrack having projections separating the indentations or serrations, andcooperating means between the figure and said track actuated by means ofthe indentations and projections thereof to impart to the figure atrotting movement during a portion of its forward movement and a leapingaction during certain other portions of its travel, substantially as setforth.

5. In a mechanical toy, the combination of a movable figure, an inracedtrack, and arms extended from the figure .and having offset portions totravel upon the inraced portion of the track to impart a jogging actionto the figures simultaneous with its forward movement.

6. In a mechanical toy, the combination of a movable figure, a movablesupport therefor, spaced arms having pivotal connection withrespectively, said figure and support, and an inraced track cooperatingwith said arms to impart a jogging movement to the figure simultaneouswith its forward movement.

7. In a mechanical toy, the combination of a movable figure, atravel-support therefor, spaced arms having pivotal connection withrespectively, the figure and its support, one of said arms being rigidthroughout its length and the other composed of articulating parts, andan inraced track cooperating with said arms to impart a jogging actionto the figure simultaneously with its forward movement.

8. In a mechanical toy, the combination of a figure, a movable supporttherefor, spaced arms pivotally connecting said figure with said supportand having a portion of each folded to provide an offset, and an inracedtrack cooperating with the offsets of said arms to impart a joggingaction to the figure simultaneously with its forward movement.

9. In a mechanical toy, the combination of a figure, a movable supporttherefor, an inraced track, and spaced arms having pivotal connectionwith respectively, the said figure and support, one of said arms beingrigid and the other composed of articulating parts, and each of saidarms having a portion folded to provide an offset, the parts of thejointed arm articulating upon a member of the folded portion thereof.

10. In a mechanical toy, the combination of a movable figure, hurdlesarranged in the path of said figure, a track having projections oppositeto the hurdles and having the portions between said projections inracedor serrated, and cooperating means between the movable figure and trackto impart a jogging action to the figure when traveling between thehurdles and a leaping action when clearing said hurdles.

11. In a mechanical toy, the combination of an annular rest provided atintervals with hurdles, a movable figure, an annular track concentricwith the rest and the path of travel of said figure and havingprojections opposite to the hurdles and inraced portions opposite thespaces formed between said hurdles, and supporting-arms for said figurehaving parts arranged to travel upon the inraced and projecting portionsof the track to impart a trotting and leaping action to the figure inits forward movement, substantially as set forth.

12. In a mechanical toy, the combination of a movable figure, a secondfigure representing a master, means for imparting a bodily movement tosaid master, and other means for giving motion to a member of saidmaster independent of the bodily movement.

13. In a mechanical toy, the combination of a figure having jointedmembers and mounted to turn about an axis, means for imparting rotarymovement to said figure, a series of cams-concentric with the axis ofthe figure, and cooperating means between a member of the figure andsaid cams to cause the member to receive a movement independent of therotary movement of the fi ure.

let. In a mechanical toy, the combination of a rotary support, a figuremounted upon said support for independent rotary movement and havingjointed members, a pinwheel connected with the axis of said figure, atrip arranged in the path of the members of said pin-wheel to effectintermittent rotation of the figure, a series of cams concentrio-withthe axis of said figure, and cooperating means between a member of thefigure and said cams.

15. A mechanical toy comprising a platform, means for imparting rotarymovement thereto, a series of figures, arms loosely connecting saidfigures with the platform, an inraced track cooperating with said armsto impart a jogging action to thefigures, an-

other figure representing a master and comprising jointed members, oneof which carries a whip or like article, means for impartingintermittent rotary movement to the master, and other means foractuating the whip-carrying arm.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT HELMER. Witnesses:

HENRY NoBBs, RALPH PREsooTT.

